Coenonympha haydenii
Hayden’s Ringlet
Family:Satyridae
Family Description:
Alternate Common Names:Wyoming Ringlet, Yellowstone Ringlet.
Description:
Caterpillar: The caterpillar is yellow to green and marked lengthwise with white stripes along the back and white and pink stripes along the sides.
Adult: The butterfly is medium-sized, with a wingspan of 1 3/8 to 1 7/8 inches. It is brown to gray and without markings on the upperside. Underneath, the hindwings are marked with a curved row of black eyespots, each edged in yellow and with a white center. The edges of the fore- and hindwings are lined with silver and fringed with white.

Range:
This species has a very narrow range that spans southeastern Idaho, southwestern Montana, and western Wyoming.

Habitat:

It tends to occur at middle elevations, primarily in meadows, forest openings, and bogs. Generally, males prefer drier sites while females frequent wetter sites.

Diet:

Caterpillar: Caterpillars feed on the leaves of grasses (Poaceae) and possibly sedges (Cyperaceae).
Adult: Butterflies drink flower nectar.

Ecology:

There is one generation of caterpillars each summer. Adults generally fly from the end of June through mid-August. Little is known about its life cycle.

Reproduction:

Males patrol to find receptive females. The sites chosen by females for laying eggs have not been observed or reported.

Conservation:
Idaho Status: Unprotected nongame species.
Global Rank: G5
populations are widespread, abundant, and secure.

References:
 Ferris, C. D. and F. M. Brown. (eds.) 1981. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. Univ. of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, 442 pp.

Opler, P. A., H. Pavulaan, and R. E. Stanford. 1995. Butterflies of North America. Jamestown, North Dakota, USA: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm (Version 05Nov98).

Opler, P. A. and A. B.Wright. 1999. A Field Guide to the Western Butterflies.   Second Edition.  Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, New York, USA, 540 pp.

Pyle, R. M. 1981. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, New York, USA, 924 pp.

Scott, J. A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, USA, 583 pp.

Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western U.S.A. Butterflies (Including Adjacent Parts of Canada and Mexico). Published by authors, Denver, Colorado, USA, 275 pp.